Ford says it is recalling 575,000 older model Windstar vans in the United States and Canada over concerns that the rear axles can corrode and potentially break.

The recall covers vehicles in the model years 1998 to 2003 sold in states where the heavy use of road salt can cause more corrosion. That includes Canada, New England, the Mid-Atlantic states and the Great Lakes region.

Ford Motor Co. says it plans to start notifying owners beginning on Sept. 27. The company says the axle breaks have occurred in only a small number of cases.

Ford shares are up 18 cents, or 1.5 percent, at $11.35 in morning trading.